U.S. patent number 11,138,613 [Application Number 12/842,283] was granted by the patent office on 2021-10-05 for method and system with multi-tier club memberships for discounted buying on the internet and at store locations.
The grantee listed for this patent is John C. Abendroth, Marc B. Abendroth. Invention is credited to John C. Abendroth, Marc B. Abendroth.
United States Patent |
11,138,613 |
Abendroth , et al. |
October 5, 2021 |
Method and system with multi-tier club memberships for discounted
buying on the internet and at store locations
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and system as a branded club
product (goods and services) discounting membership, universal
discount card technology, hardware infrastructure, operational and
software corporate team amalgamation, seller and buyer critical
mass, essential implementation and real-time operational approach
to integrate interne e-commerce with in-store commerce in physical
store locations, at the point of sale (POS) checkout at store
registers, of initially hundreds and eventually thousands of
sellers, electronically and operationally, launching and igniting a
whole new generation of advertising, buying and selling.
Inventors: |
Abendroth; John C. (Mequon,
WI), Abendroth; Marc B. (Mequon, WI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Abendroth; John C.
Abendroth; Marc B. |
Mequon
Mequon |
WI
WI |
US
US |
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Family
ID: |
44816573 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/842,283 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20110264499 A1 |
Oct 27, 2011 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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11376951 |
Mar 16, 2006 |
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PCT/US2004/030762 |
Sep 17, 2004 |
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60503599 |
Sep 17, 2003 |
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60534236 |
Jan 5, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
30/0222 (20130101); G06Q 30/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06Q
30/00 (20120101); G06Q 30/02 (20120101) |
Field of
Search: |
;705/14 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Collins, Clayton, You want it? You got it--instantly. Retailers
have gone beyond traditional stores, catalogs, and websites,. Now
they offer opportunities to buy 24/7. The Christian Science
Monitor, Oct. 20, 2004 (Year: 2004). cited by examiner.
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Primary Examiner: Hamilton; Matthew L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Boyle Fredrickson, S.C.
Parent Case Text
This Utility Patent Application provides important improvements
with additional subject matter and inventive steps along with
enhanced method and system descriptions, operational/implementation
elements and exemplary figures to the prior Abendroth et al. patent
application Ser. No. 11/376,951 filed Mar. 16, 2006 (Published Jul.
13, 2006, No. US 2006/0155603 A1) and entitled "Method And System
With Multi-Tier Club Memberships For Discounted Buying On The
Internet And At Store Locations" (The abstract of this application
is shown herein this submittal in Paragraph [0002] below and on
Page 62.) which was a continuation-in-part of application No.
PCT/US2004/030762, filed Sep. 17, 2004 and having the same title as
above along with the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.
60/503,599 filed Sep. 17, 2003 and entitled "Method And System With
Club Memberships For Discounted Buying On The Internet And At Store
Locations", and the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.
60/534,236 filed Jan. 5, 2004 and entitled "Method And System With
Multi-Tier Club Memberships For Discounted Buying On The Internet
And At Store Locations".
Claims
We claim:
1. A computer implemented method of buying and selling using club
memberships as a basis for buyers to receive discounts on purchases
of products offered by sellers, the method comprising: receiving,
at a retail store, at least one product or service to be purchased
by a user; scanning, by a point of sale terminal, a club membership
card associated with a previously purchased tiered-subscription by
the user; transmitting, by the point of sale terminal through a
network, to a web server account associated with the scanned club
membership card, purchase data including identification of the at
least one product or service to be purchased by a user;
determining, by the web server, whether the transmitted purchase
data matches one or more discounts or promotions that are currently
offered and displayed products or services on a web page associated
with the scanned club membership card, wherein the one or more
discounts or promotions that are currently offered and displayed
products or services on the web page associated with the scanned
club membership card is dependent on a tier of the scanned
membership card; transmitting, by the web server to the point of
sale terminal through the network, the discounts or promotions that
match the at least one product or service to be purchased by the
user; applying by the point of sale terminal, the discounts or
promotions displayed on web page associated with the scanned club
membership card to a price of the at least one product or service
to be purchased by the user; receiving, by the point of sale
terminal, payment for the at least one product or service from the
user minus the discount or promotion applied using the scanned
membership card.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and system as a branded club
product (goods and services) discounting membership, universal
discount card technology, hardware infrastructure, operational and
software corporate team amalgamation, seller and buyer critical
mass, essential implementation and real-time operational approach
to integrate Internet e-commerce with in-store commerce in physical
store locations, at the point of sale (POS) checkout at store
registers, of initially hundreds and eventually thousands of
sellers, electronically and operationally, launching and igniting a
whole new generation of advertising, buying and selling. This
technology-based marketing and sales, method and system, Internet
online and huge real-world offline integration concept addresses
discounting in the vast consumer national and international, retail
and wholesale, products and services marketplaces, utilizing
individually or collectively computer systems, the Internet,
e-mail, electronic data interchange (EDI), television, telephone,
mail, facsimile (fax), catalogs, magazines and newspapers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The concept of sellers offering products (goods and services) to be
purchased by buyers has been a practice engaged in by both
individuals and corporations over very many years throughout the
world. New ideas to promote this process through marketing and
advertising via the use of many different mediums is continually
being addressed and developed to maximize the efficiency and
effectiveness of such interactions in the specific area of
shopping.
The overall competition from internet product and/or service sites
competing in a relatively new industry presently address only 1.4%
of the purchasing environment; whereas, 98.6% of all sales are
presently being completed in the real-world, at point-of-sale store
locations. While the internet is important and will become
increasingly more important, at this point in time, the real-world
area of sales holds sway over the true interests of sellers
(merchants and manufacturers), buyers and financial institutions.
These participants in the world of buying and selling would like to
bring the great strengths of both of these elements together in a
compatible and enhancing integration, but have yet to do so.
Sellers are all trying to reach the largest potential audience of
potential buyers for the least cost and offer those buyers products
at costs that will entice buyers to purchase those products.
The present top ten (10) Internet sites relative to their shopping
offering areas combined had a May 2004 total audience of 74.72
million. Separately in millions for the "shopping" portions of
these ten sites according to the Nielsen/NetRatings in the Jul. 26,
2004 edition of The Wall Street Journal was Yahoo! Shopping
(17.12), Shopping.com (15.73), BizRate (10.83), NexTag (8.11), MSN
Shopping (5.73), PriceGrabber (4.54), Froogle (Google) (4.08), AOL
Shopping (4.08), MySimon (3.01) and Shoptoday.us (1.49).
Advertising revenues paid by merchants to be on these Internet
sites, some making up to 98% of these service providers' overall
gross incomes, is the life blood of these organizations. In 2003,
Yahoo! and Google combined accounted for 40% of the overall total
of 6.6 billion dollars spent on Internet ads with their 1.650
billion dollar and 0.962 billion dollar respective gross revenues.
In that same year, 2003, offline, real world, print advertising and
marketing efforts in magazines totaled 11.6 billion dollars
according to JupiterResearch, The Wall Street Journal, Jul. 27,
2004 edition. Internet advertising is proposed to equal print
magazine advertising in the year 2007 at 13.8 billion dollars and
exceed print ads in the year 2009 with 16 billion dollars compared
to 15 billion dollars--a lot of Internet ad spending for a
relatively small return.
Corporations presently advertise products on their own sites as
well as on others including advertising on one or more of the
following shopping search engine sites: Amazon.com Shopping, AOL
Shopping, BizRate, Froogle (Google) Shopping, MSN Shopping,
MySimon, NexTag, PriceGrabber, Shopping.com, Shoptoday.us,
Trilegiant Shopping (Shoppers Advantage, Netmarket.com and
Travelers Advantage), Visa Shopping, and Yahoo! Shopping. These
Internet ad revenue driven sites charge for ad placements and web
site links. Revenue options include but are not limited to "per
click" charges that can range from $0.19 to $1.25, with or without
a purchase being made, or require logo indication charges, or bill
percentage of sale charges.
An article from Friday, Sep. 3, 2004, in The Wall Street Journal,
Marketplace, Page A7, titled: "Shoppers Who Blend Store, Catalog
and Web Spend More". This article indicated quote: "A study by
Forrester Research recently found that customers who shop three
different ways--in store, on Web sites and with catalogs--spend
about four times more than customers who shop only through one of
those channels. Similarly, customers who shop two different ways
spend two to three times more than the single-channel consumer."
This was also found by consulting firm J. C. Williams Group working
with J. C. Penney Co. Many consumers like to be able to first check
out items on the web before actually going to the store to buy
same. Those that do also tend to buy more at the store when they do
go. The linking of online and bricks-and-mortar is where retailers
must direct their strategic planning to take advantage of this
changing customer phenomenon.
However, with the many thousands of web sites vying for attention,
the importance lies not only with merely being on the Internet but
rather in being represented on a highly recognized, universally
respected branded Internet site that is capable of drawing the
largest audience of potential shoppers to which merchants can then
present their selected potential buying opportunities enticing
those consumers to come to real-world store locations. An
individual does not have the time or inclination to view thousands
of web site home pages
Smaller Internet sites with smaller audiences than the ten (10)
largest offer shopping searches (e.g., dealcatcher.com (coupons),
sundaysaver.com (weekly store newspaper ad flyers),
onlineclothingstores.com and clothes-coupons.com along with the
marketing service Performics owned by DoubleClick) are all fringe
approaches attempting to capture a buyer market for the
participating sellers offering products for purchase. These sites
are less expensive sites on which to advertise but also provide
less seller product exposure.
Another Internet web site "Offer Zone" is presently being put forth
by American Express (AMX). Of the 61 companies, 25 are hotels, all
of which either offer only 15% off their regular rates or a minimum
of 15% off their rates. Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Travelocity.com,
Priceline.com, Hotwire.com, etc. all are service providers
addressing hotel accommodations that offer far better values than
15%, ranging from 40% to 70% off the regular hotel rates. The VISA
+ Club Membership Venture while concentrating on other retail areas
than hotels will fall into the later group concerning such
offerings. Also, included in the other American Express "Offer
Zone" participants besides hotels are retail companies just
offering "free shipping" depending upon the size of the purchase or
asking for one to join their own separate memberships or giving
discounts of 10%, 15%, 20% or 25% reductions with
conditions--mostly by web or phone purchasing with only a few
in-store opportunities. The American Express "Offer Zone" uses the
various AMX Credit Cards. Again, it does not even remotely
encompass the approach, intention or implementation of the present
invention discussed below.
Many individual sellers presently offer free in-store discount
cards to their customers that can be used in their own seller store
locations to receive discounts on certain selected products.
Customers fill out a short information card and are issued the
discount card immediately, unless the cashing of checks by the
customer will be desired, requiring additional time for the seller
to review qualifications.
These one level, free one seller (merchant) in-store location
discount cards, not club memberships, can be received by any
individual customer and are given to promote loyalty among their
customers by offering some discount opportunities when the cards
are scanned at the checkout register prior, during or after ringing
up purchases but before the final total. A customer can have a
plurality of discount cards from a plurality of sellers, each one
only valid at the individual stores of the specific issuing
sellers. These cards are not affected by and can be used in
conjunction with the present invention discussed below.
Financial institutions (banks) and some sellers issue credit cards
(with or without rewards) and/or debit cards (with or without
rewards). These financial instrument purchasing cards (e.g., Visa,
MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Japan Credit Bureau (JCB),
Diners Club, etc.) are used both on the Internet and at in-store
locations to pay for the products (goods and services) offered by
sellers. Rewards including points, miles, products, etc. by using
these cards for purchases at various seller locations and seller
product types are a marketing and sales incentive by the issuing
corporations for the cardholders to use individual cards by
receiving specific value. Some of these credit and/or debit cards
are free and others have annual fees (e.g., $35, $55, 95$, etc,).
These cards are not affected by and can be used for the payment of
product purchases in conjunction with the present invention
discussed below.
In view of the above discussion, it should be evident that
currently there are a wide variety of methods and devices that are
available to a wide variety of companies of different types that
are designed to create incentives to increase consumer spending on
a variety of levels. While these existing methods and devices each
have their respective areas of effectiveness, the methods and
devices are largely disparate, are often duplicative, and generally
fail to successfully operate in conjunction with one another in a
manner that would effectively harness the opportunities associated
with the integration of multiple channels of
sales/marketing/promotion. Therefore, it would be advantageous if a
new method and system were devised that allowed for such
multi-channel integration.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present technology-based invention integrates the Internet
online and the huge real-world, point of sale (POS) at in-store
registers, offline, with a marketing and sales, method and system
for discounting in the vast consumer, national and international,
retail and wholesale, products (goods and services) marketplaces
via product discount club memberships along with the discount club
member cards.
The development of this concept includes the full operational
elements of this invention addressing such a unique and never
before available total method and system approach for multi-tier
club memberships for discounted buying on the Internet and at store
locations (e.g., bronze club, silver club, gold club and platinum
club). Each tier would address different product types with each
successively higher level tier offering additional discounts than
the tiers before along with the same discount offers of the lower
tier memberships.
The club membership venture concerning the potential purchasing
membership audience being vast, and demographic potential buyers to
which participating sellers (merchants) will be presenting both
within the internet community as well as in the real world of
commerce, expresses the potential impact of this unique concept.
The start-up will included an enormous fully activated club product
discount card membership number, all simultaneous on the initial
launch date.
The online/offline integration concept itself, the actual
implementation/infrastructure along with the provider and user
participants are all integral to the success of such a venture.
While truly addressing discounting, the intention is not to merely
further discount seller advertised discounts but rather to offer a
new additional enormously valuable venue for marketing offerings to
a huge uniquely viable shopping orientated audience, who will then
make purchases in the many seller stores throughout the
country.
As indicated, each major merchant participating in the launch of
this venture, will be partially to fully reimbursed, depending upon
the seller operational requirements, for
hardware/software/development costs, which include the individual
seller IT personnel time in working with the venture software
development/implementation teams as required for the integration
and installation of the proposed base multiple discount level
software and/or ISO 8583 Loyalty Messaging Format (for example) at
the registers at the individual merchant's store locations. The
system(s) would be tied into the individual seller controlled, club
product discount seller site page(s) on the Internet for real-time
data information transfer and which, in turn, would be directly
tied to the individual merchant's own separate home page on their
own Internet site for all other shopping offers.
In stark contrast to present shopping search sites that are seller
ad revenue driven, the proposed club membership venture intends not
to charge major sellers (merchants) for advertising (special ads
excluded)--an enormous plus for the participating sellers,
especially when considering the vast and unequaled, purchasing
audience being proposed to be addressed. Revenues for the club
venture will be generated by the annual, renewable, club membership
fees, which will begin following an "initial" free three (3) month
start-up period for the members.
Corporations can present their discounting approach and reduction
percentages as are presently indicated in their ads without
changing the discounts or offering anything in addition to that
already advertised. Or, along with present corporate offerings,
which in themselves may be most inviting, one, two or more items
could be selected on occasion (e.g., once a week or once a month)
in addition, as super special(s) directed solely to the vast club
membership audience, as even a further incentive to bring them into
their store locations. Specials can be shown to be offered for as
little time as for one specific hour during one specific day or for
as long as is desired. The flexibility in marketing is limited only
by the imagination of the merchant.
Club members (buyers) can log onto the club product discount member
Internet web site and using their individual club member numbers
and password can access the listings of corporations (sellers)
either by corporate logo, corporate name listing or product type to
view discounts (e.g., discounts--20% to 55% off of the manufacturer
suggested retail or list prices plus free shipping or super
discounts--over 55% to 90% off of the manufacturer suggested retail
or list prices plus free shipping) as offered by the sellers.
Additional information is available at the corporate logos such as
indications of the date and number of the latest entries, the date
and discount percent of present offerings and the date and time of
discounting availability (e.g., one week, one day, one hour,
etc.).
Full individual product information is shown along with pricing,
discounts and savings to the club members. Individual products,
more than one of the products, component products, out-of-stock,
and waitlist offerings are available. Payments can be by credit
card, debit card, check, money order or cash (at in-store
registers). Purchases can be in the full amount, by monthly time
payments until paid in full, or layaway until paid in full.
Club buyer members can just view the Internet product discount
offers by the sellers to see what is presently available and then
choose to go directly to the actual seller store locations to
purchase the selected items. Products at the in-store locations are
available at the exact same price as those shown on the sellers'
Internet discount pages. The software program integrated into the
sellers' host system (e.g., IBM, NCR, VeriFone, etc.)
electronically transmits the data from the Internet to the
resisters in real time. The club product discount cards have
magnetic authorization strips that are swiped at the checkout along
with a bar code discount tier identifier to automatically give the
club member the appropriate discount when scanned prior to, during
or after ringing up the purchases but before the final total. The
discounts are automatically indicated on the buyer's register
receipt. A manual approach to give the club member the correct
product discounts is available via individual item sheets with bar
codes, coupons or manually entering the item discount at the
register.
Financial institution review found no negativity in this method and
system, agreeing with the importance of having the issuing bank
name on the card and indicating that they would like to be involved
on a percentage of the annual membership fee revenues basis for
additional financial institutional marketing for the venture. Very
important and as previously stated, these club cards are preferably
discount cards only, not credit or debit cards with or without
rewards. This therefore, does not negatively impact the present or
future issued financial purchasing cards, but rather will increase
the volume of cardholder purchasing, generating greater revenue for
the individual credit and debit card issuing financial
institutions.
In addition, the club member product discount cards are totally
separate from all of the present individual in-store merchant
discount cards. Actual purchases will be made via credit cards
(with or without rewards including individual seller (merchant)
cards), debit cards (with or without rewards), check cards, checks,
money orders or cash.
In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a method
of buying and selling using club memberships as a basis for buyers
to receive discounts on purchases of products offered by sellers
through at least one of a computer system, the Internet, e-mail,
electronic data interchange (EDI), television, telephone, facsimile
(fax), catalogs, magazines, newspapers, coupons, and mailings and
additionally at in-store locations, where the products comprise
either goods or services. The method includes making a plurality of
discounted product offers from the sellers available to the buyers
by integrating an Internet online channel of purchasing with
real-world offline channels of purchasing, and providing the club
memberships and associated membership cards of the buyers to
provide access to the integrated channels and the discounted
product offers from the sellers. The method is further
characterized in that the buyers who are club members have access
to a club Internet web site that allows the club members to access
the discounted product offers on individual seller discount pages
from the sellers directly linked through seller logos or seller
names either generally or by product category to the club Internet
web site without the buyers having to visit a multitude of seller
sites separately and locate the individual seller discount pages
from within information included on the seller sites.
Additionally, in certain embodiments the present invention relates
to a club membership product discounting system in which sellers
advertise discount product offers to buyers for purchase through an
integration of online and offline channels. The system includes
means for hosting, managing and operating a club membership
Internet web site on which the sellers can advertise the discount
product offers to the buyers through links to discount pages from
at least one of seller logos and seller names. The system further
includes means for indicating additional important temporal product
information at the seller logos prior to receiving commands from
the buyers to link to the discount pages, and means for allowing
the respective sellers to add, remove and revise data on the
discount pages associated with the respective sellers. The system
additionally includes means for linking to respective main web
sites of the respective sellers from the respective discount pages,
means for allowing the buyers to purchase discounted products
online securely, and means for electronically transmitting
discounted product data from the hosting means to seller in-store
checkout registers.
Other objects and advantages of the invention, besides those
discussed above, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art from the description of the preferred embodiment which follows.
In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings,
which form a part hereof, and which illustrate examples of the
invention. Such examples, however, are not exhaustive of the
various embodiments of the invention, and therefore, reference is
made to the claims that follow the description for determining the
scope of the invention. That is, the particular objects and
advantages and other information provided above, and the
description of the preferred embodiment and accompany drawings
discussed below, may apply to only some embodiments falling within
the claims and thus do not define the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows exemplary (AOLTW & VISA + Club) membership cards
(Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum) in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention (P);
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) text scenario breakdown of
offering areas for club card type (P);
FIG. 3 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) text scenario breakdown of
offering areas (2.sup.nd Page) (P);
FIG. 4 shows an exemplary text scenario of the ISP system on-line
and off the Internet (P);
FIG. 5 shows an exemplary text scenario of the ISP system on-line
and off the Internet (2.sup.nd Page) (P);
FIG. 6 shows an exemplary text scenario of the ISP System on-line
and off the Internet (3.sup.rd Page) (P);
FIG. 7 shows an exemplary diagrammatic scenario of the ISP system
on-line the Internet (P);
FIG. 8 shows an exemplary diagrammatic scenario of the ISP system
off-line in a retail store (P);
FIG. 9 shows an exemplary (AOL.com) Internet home page (P);
FIG. 10 shows an exemplary (AOL.com) Internet home page w/ + club
member no./password sign-in (P);
FIG. 11 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) discounted (D) corporate logos
page possible (P);
FIG. 12 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) super discounted (SD) corporate
logos page (2.sup.nd Page) (P);
FIG. 13 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) D & SD corporate logos page
w/full internet screen (P);
FIG. 14 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) listing of D & SD covered
area breakdown (P);
FIG. 15 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) listing of D & SD covered
area breakdown (2.sup.nd Page) (P);
FIG. 16 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) listing of D & SD/magazines
w/full Internet screen (P);
FIG. 17 shows an exemplary (AOLTW/Sears) general all areas D &
SD Internet site page (P);
FIG. 18 shows an exemplary (AOLTW/Sears) general all areas D &
SD Internet site (2.sup.nd Page) (P);
FIG. 19 shows an exemplary (AOLTW/Sears) appliance/refrigeration SD
Internet page (P);
FIG. 20 shows an exemplary (AOLTW/Sears) SD pricing Internet page
(% below MSRP) (P);
FIG. 21 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) listing of D & SD/clothing,
etc. with full Internet screen (P);
FIG. 22 shows an exemplary (AOLTW) D & SD/clothing, etc. corp.
logos w/full Internet screen (P);
FIG. 23 shows an exemplary (AOLTW/Sears) specific clothing area D
& SD Internet site page (P);
FIG. 24 shows an exemplary (AOLTW/Sears) clothing pricing (% below
MSRP) Internet site page (P);
FIG. 25 shows an exemplary (AOL) shopping comparative pricing
Internet page alternative (P);
FIG. 26 shows an exemplary credit card plus club membership card
methods of payment for purchases (P);
FIG. 27 shows an exemplary credit card plus club business
membership card with business credit cards (P)
FIG. 28 shows an exemplary credit card plus club membership card
individual credit/debit card examples (P);
FIG. 29 shows an exemplary credit card plus club membership card
plus discount and/or payment cards (P);
FIG. 30 shows an exemplary CLUB card online and offline magnetic
strip/barcode and smart cards (P);
FIG. 31 shows an exemplary CLUB card plus bronze, silver, gold and
platinum magnet strip/barcode cards (P);
FIG. 32 shows an exemplary credit card plus one card (discount with
credit) or two card membership offerings (P);
FIG. 33 shows an exemplary credit card plus one card/two card
offering comparison--page two (P); and
FIG. 34 shows an exemplary club membership in-store advertisement
example (P).
FIG. 35 shows exemplary non-payment financial institution issued
(MBNA, Chase, CapitalOne, Citi, Bank of America, Household Bank,
Discover & American Express) Universal Preferred Customer +
Club Platinum Membership Discount Cards in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention which provides dual advertising
for both the financial institutions and the + Club Memberships
(P);
FIG. 36 shows exemplary non-payment Chase Universal Preferred
Customer + Club Membership Multi-level (Platinum, Gold, Silver
& Bronze) Discount Cards in accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention (P);
FIG. 37 shows an exemplary advertising page indicating the concept
and showing a generic Universal Preferred Customer + Club
Membership Card with the slogan "Your Shopping Companion" (P);
FIG. 38 shows an exemplary tri-foldable advertising flyer for a
CapitalOne + Club Platinum Membership & + Club Card (Outside
Face) (P);
FIG. 39 shows an exemplary tri-foldable advertising flyer for a
CapitalOne + Club Platinum Membership & + Club Card (Inside
Face) (P);
FIG. 40 shows an exemplary advertising mailer announcing the
forthcoming free gift of a temporary CapitalOne + Club Platinum
Membership (Front) (P);
FIG. 41 shows an exemplary advertising mailer announcing the
forthcoming free gift of a temporary CapitalOne + Club Platinum
Membership (Back) (P).
FIG. 42 shows an exemplary + Club banner on a participating
merchant's main Internet site (i.e.: Sears) which provides
reciprocal advertising as the individual merchant actually
advertises + Club memberships by hosting the required Internet link
to the merchant's + Club discounts and/or super discounts they are
offering to consumers (P).
FIG. 43 shows an exemplary + Club Membership Discounts page for a
potential participating home improvement retailer (i.e.: The Home
Depot) indicating the + Club identification appears throughout an
individual merchant's offering Internet pages (P).
FIG. 44 shows an exemplary graphic sphere signifying an initial
optimal critical mass of one hundred million (100,000,000) proven
buying consumers (not just Internet users, viewers, social
networkers or garners) as a proposed initial number of members for
a club to be the marketing and advertising targets by retailers and
manufacturers using the method and system;
FIG. 45 augments the exemplary graphic in FIG. 44 by showing an
initial possible eleven (11) credit card and debit card issuing
financial institutions (seven (7) banks and four (4) associations)
as the proposed selectors of the initial one hundred million club
member buyers from their credit and debit cardholder members who
presently hold online and/or offline relationships with these
institutions;
FIG. 46 augments the exemplary graphic in FIG. 45 by showing an
initial possible thirty-two (32) retailers as the proposed
providers of the specially selected discounted products and
services for purchase using the method and system by the one
hundred million club member buyers on the Internet and in the
retailers' physical store locations along with the retailers online
and offline relationships with both the consumers and the financial
institutions;
FIG. 47 augments the exemplary graphic in FIG. 46 by showing a
smaller sphere as the initial proposed club organization and an
initial possible twenty-three (23) plus other entities as the
proposed method and system developers, integrators, implementers
and suppliers along with the online and offline relationships
between the club and these vendors, the consumers, the merchants
and the financial institutions;
FIG. 48 shows an exemplary chart of participating entities involved
in various aspects of providing the club membership, universal
marketing, advertising and sales method and system including the
software application product providers (software and software
developers, the application service provider and the IT
infrastructure provider), the Internet search engine provider, the
middleware providers (in-store infrastructure providers, in-store
software providers and vendors and service providers), the major
credit and debit card manufacturers, the discounted product
providers (major card issuing banks and associations, major
merchants and manufacturers) and consumers;
FIG. 49 shows an exemplary club participants, components and
transactions inter-relational overview graphic including the roles
of participating retailers, card issuing banks and associations,
service providers, and consumers addressing product viewing through
actual product purchase scenarios operationally in both physical
store locations and on the club member Internet web site;
FIG. 50 shows an exemplary of three (3) non-payment discount
access, bank name branded (e.g. Chase, Bank of America and Citi)
universal preferred customer, platinum club membership cards to be
used by club members when purchasing goods and services on the
Internet online and in stores offline, on the phone or using
catalogs along with benefits accrued for the card issuing financial
institutions' participation in the method and system--all club
cards optionally marketed as "Your Shopping Companion";
FIG. 51 shows an alternate exemplary club membership card
front-face design as compared to those shown in the prior submitted
FIG. 31, which also shows exemplary club cards including bronze,
silver, gold and platinum magnetic strip with barcode cards
(P);
FIG. 52 shows exemplary alternate retail categories indicating
potential products or services proposed to be offered with
discounted and super discounted pricing under each of the four (4)
club card types (e.g. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum) as
compared to that shown in the prior submitted FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG.
14 and FIG. 15;
FIG. 53 shows an alternate exemplary club membership card
front-face design as compared to that shown in the prior submitted
FIG. 29, which also shows exemplary club membership cards used with
credit cards, debit cards, discount cards and other payment types
(P)--as the club cards are typically non-payment instruments with
credit cards, debit cards, merchant cards, gift cards, checks,
money orders or cash being the actual payment instruments;
FIG. 54 shows an exemplary alternate use of a diagonal band color
(e.g. blue or purple) on the front and/or of placing a name/logo
(e.g. Red Yahoo! or White "Y" in purple oval with purple!) of the
club site hosting Internet search engine provider (e.g. Yahoo!) on
the back of the club membership cards;
FIG. 55 shows an exemplary comparison of typical loyalty/reward
programs relative to such offerings as points on qualifying
purchases, redemption of points, 1% cash back, 2% rebates on
eligible gas, travel and dining purchases, etc. using any of the
multiple payment cards as compared to the additional possible
substantial benefits to the cardholders by using those payment
cards in concert with the immediate significantly larger 5% to 90%
product and service discounts and super discounts at participating
retailers' points of sale at time of purchase, as would be
available to club members using the one universal preferred
customer club discount access, non-payment card approach;
FIG. 56 shows exemplary bank loyalty reward card programs' benefits
dilution due to cardholders using multiple cards for purchases as
opposed to selecting just one payment card, for benefits accumulate
separately on each card, not collectively between payment cards.
Also, shown is a general club membership non-payment card advantage
statement with the payment for purchases being made by credit card,
debit card, merchant card, reward card, gift card, check, money
order or cash;
FIG. 57 shows an exemplary of universal platinum club membership
cards issuer name branded by eleven (11) card separate issuing
financial institutions (e.g. Listed alphabetically: American
Express, Bank of America, CapitalOne, Chase, Citi, Discover, HSBC,
MasterCard, US Bank, Visa, and Wells Fargo) along with a proposed
number of free temporary club membership cards determined to be
issued, optimally at the club's expense, by each bank or
association out of the initial proposed one hundred million
temporary club cards at method and system launch, based upon the
issuing institutions' individual market shares of the total issued
and presently active credit card and debit card accounts;
FIG. 58 shows an exemplary of a sequential text diagram showing
comparisons of both Internet online and in-store offline club
member verses non-club member multiple steps from product viewing
to product purchase shopping scenarios;
FIG. 59 shows exemplary in-store club member consumer's register
receipts showing a product, the club membership discount and the
total savings or a product, the club membership discount along with
both additional separate retailer and card issuer discounts applied
and the total savings on the purchase;
FIG. 60 shows an exemplary of a club member's personal monthly
discount shopping activity page summary indicating the name of the
retailers and manufacturers along with the products, retail price,
club price, percent saved, amount saved and dates of purchase. A
member can see the total monthly saving and the savings to date,
which can then be compared to the annual club membership fee to
understand the actual net savings received up to that point in
time;
FIG. 61 shows an exemplary retailers' and manufacturers' products,
brands and service rating format which includes a comment section
for club members to further address individual retailer's and
manufacturer's products, brands and service;
FIG. 62 shows an exemplary club member shopping discussion forum.
This is an important social networking aspect in a spread sheet
format allowing for club members to truly interact with each other
in an open comment, response, rating venue, addressing all areas of
their shopping experiences (e.g. retailers, manufacturers, brands,
products, advertising (text and videos), services, discounts,
upcoming/prior sale events, club activities, etc.);
FIG. 63 shows an exemplary of logos of thirteen (13) proposed
retailers along with some of the proposed benefits accruable to
retailers and manufacturers participating in the method and
system;
FIG. 64 shows an alternate exemplary club Internet web site Home
Page with club member information, coveted advertiser presentation
locations, and club member number/password sign-in card allowing
the members to receive the merchant and manufacturer discounts and
super discounts, along with optionally offering an additional
incentive to signing in, for that by doing so would automatically,
once per day, generate individual member entries for monthly
drawings to award member prizes. All shopping departments are
indexed at the left margin to allow for ease in immediately
accessing the specific areas of interest for the club members.
Specially rewarded merchants selected by the club for the being
among the best in discount offerings participation (e.g. JC Penney
and Kohl's) are given prime club home page advertising video
placement. This exemplary alternative can be compared to that shown
in the prior submitted FIG. 10, which shows an exemplary (AOL.com)
Internet home page with a club member number/password sign-in (P)
and to the shopping department indexing as compared to that shown
in prior FIG. 14 and FIG. 15;
FIG. 65 continuing down from the home page indicated in FIG. 64
shows an alternate exemplary club specially selected corporate
retailers' and manufacturers' logos for exemplary product and
service discount offerings participation, rewarded with positioning
around a club sphere on this page w/full Internet screen as
compared to that shown in the prior submitted FIG. 13, which shows
an exemplary (AOLTW) D & SD corporate logos page w/full
Internet screen (P);
FIG. 66 shows an alternate exemplary club Internet Home Page as in
FIG. 64 showing an additional shopping department indexing detail
listing under Health & Beauty. Each of these areas can also
have further indexed detail listings to direct a member to a
specific area of interest as compared to that shown in prior FIG.
16 and FIG. 21;
FIG. 67 shows an exemplary Men's Grooming page, arrived at by first
selecting Health & Beauty along with Hair Care in FIG. 66,
showing six (6) different electric razors, five of which are
discounted and available at retailers (e.g. Wal*Mart, Kohl's &
Target) and one which is available directly from a manufacturer
(e.g. Remington);
FIG. 68 shows an exemplary manufacturer page (e.g. Remington),
arrived at by a "click" on Remington in FIG. 67, showing a
discounted electric razor along with a product description and
pricing information. This will allow manufacturers to sell directly
to the public, bypassing retailers;
FIG. 69 shows an exemplary Microsoft Bing search engine results
page advertising by retailers along with club discounts under two
areas of sponsored results for Women's Clothing (Shop and find all
brands of Women's Clothing at discounted prices) and Shop Women's
Clothing (Shop all Styles and Brands in Ladies Fashion at
Discounted Prices), both at
http://www.plusclubinternational.com;
FIG. 70 shows an exemplary club shopping page (e.g. Women's
Clothing) as being hosted by Microsoft's Bing with six (6)
merchants with a free listing "gifted" by the club and the Internet
search engine provider (e.g. Microsoft) for retailers and
manufacturers;
FIG. 71 shows an exemplary club Internet merchant (e.g. Target)
page, arrived at by a "click" on Target on FIG. 70, offering a
discounted product (e.g. V-Neck Dress) to club members describing
the product and indicating savings and instructions to purchase,
headed with a club banner and Internet search engine provider (e.g.
Microsoft's Bing);
FIG. 72 shows an alternate exemplary club Internet web site banner
link on a merchant's Internet Site Home Page (e.g. Target) showing
the Internet search engine provider (e.g. Microsoft's Bing). A
"click" on this banner would take one to the merchant's present
specially selected club product or service discounts and super
discounts. This alternate banner is compared to those shown in the
prior submitted FIG. 23 (e.g. Sears), FIG. 42 (e.g. Sears) and FIG.
43 (e.g. The Home Depot) as individual retailer home pages;
FIG. 73 shows an alternate exemplary retailer's (e.g. Target)
women's dress page with four dress offers with club discounts off
the retail price along with the percentage saved;
FIG. 74 shows one of many exemplary manufacturer (e.g. Proctor
& Gamble, P&G) Internet Beauty & Grooming site pages
listing their brands. The inclusion of club logos placed at the
individual brands would be one optional method to indicate those
brands providing product discounts for the club's members, selling
directly to the public, bypassing retailers;
FIG. 75 shows an exemplary of the possible unparalleled tracking
capabilities of club members' shopping interests and actions, only
possible through the use of club member numbers and passwords,
which the members will enter on the club Internet Home Page sign-in
card, allowing retailers to judge the true effectiveness of their
Internet marketing and advertising offers by following individual
club member's viewing of specific retailer (e.g. Target) products
on the Internet and then seeing those same products being purchased
by that individual club member in that specific retailer's physical
store location--or in some cases, even in a competitive retailer's
store location;
FIG. 76 shows an exemplary participating club merchants' (e.g. Best
Buy, Target, Staples, The Home Depot, GAP and JC Penney) selections
of advertising videos Internet web site page. Each participating
merchant indicates the number of professional videos (e.g. 4P),
amateur videos (e.g. 2A) and amateur Haul Videos along with
permitting amateurs to submit ads they have created to the
individual merchants for their review and determination of whether
that merchant desires to then post those amateur video ads on this
site for viewing by club members and non-club members; however,
only club members can rate and comment on both the professional and
amateur videos;
FIG. 77 shows an exemplary club individual merchant's (e.g. JC
Penney) professional (e.g. 4P) and amateur (e.g. 1A) advertising
video and Haul Videos selection page showing what the ad videos are
about, the length of the videos, the number of views, the number of
ratings along with one to four stars for video quality and
popularity. "Click" on the video and you would go to the
video-viewing page;
FIG. 78 shows an exemplary club Internet web site merchant's (e.g.
JC Penney) advertising video-viewing page. Club members and
non-club members can view the ads, but only club members can rate
the videos (e.g. excellent, good, fair, poor), after entering the
club member's number for identification--the running totals for
each of these ratings are indicated. The subject matter of the
video, the number of views and the number of ratings are shown.
Also, a club member may comment on the video as well as view the
comments of others;
FIG. 79 shows as exemplary summary of three possible areas for
marketing by the Internet search engine provider (e.g. Microsoft's
Bing), the card issuing banks (e.g. CapitalOne), individual
retailers (e.g. Target) or manufacturers and club itself both
online by way of the club Internet home page, on the retailers'
Internet home pages and offline on the front or back of the club
membership cards;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention relates to a WIN/WIN/WIN CONCEPT FOR:
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER(S) (ISP) & NON-ISP CORP.(S);
PARTICIPATING PRODUCT & SERVICE VENDORS/RETAILERS; and CLUB
MEMBERS (non-paying (initial) and paying subscribers). Throughout
this embodiment including the diagrams, ISP (or any AOL, AOLTW or
VISA example) includes any ISP and/or any non-ISP corporation
offering an Internet site platform/portal capable of providing for
the Marketing/Sales Method & System of the present invention.
Also, it should be noted that any SEARS example includes any
participating corporations including, e.g., retail & wholesale
(corp.) discounts & super discounts. Further, it should be
noted that the CLUB MEMBERS can includes individuals &
small/medium/large corporations.
The Marketing/Sales Method and System using Club Memberships
provides a "Neutral, Vendor Platform" and a "Specialized, Internet
Portal" for the available multiples of competing, responsible and
reliable vendors and/or service providers in an almost unrestricted
variety of legitimate areas to advertise the offering of special
"discounts" (e.g., 20% to 55% plus Free Shipping) and/or "super
discounts" (e.g., over 55% to 90% plus Free Shipping) from the
Standard List or the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)
on provider selected products and/or services. This is not merely a
typical aggregation of corporate names with vendors/retailers'
products and/or services offered in side-by-side comparisons of
type, quality, price, etc. or the typical listing or display of
corporate named links/connections to the general, individual
product or service providers internet sites that a person might
very well already know and could therefore enter their separate
sites totally without the use of the concept. Rather it is a
single, real-time source and platform for multitudes of
participating retailers, service organizations, etc. to advertise
their present and/or future enticing discount and super discount
offerings to a very large audience of demographically targeted
members and potential purchasers. After checking out the true
specials, the individuals may very well enter the rest of the
corporations' individual Internet sites to view their other
offerings available to the general public. This one neutral,
collective "discounting" location is a unique, highly interactive,
product and service information communication, marketing and sales
tool between vendors and buyers. This method and system replaces
the need for an individual to search hundreds and even thousands of
individual corporate Internet sites to find such discounts, which
is not only extremely time-consuming but by the very nature of such
a process is for all practical purposes impossible, along with
integrating these almost unlimited number of Internet offerings on
the aforementioned multitude of sites with those of the physical
world at individual store locations for the same products and
services. (See FIGS. 1 through 25.)
An operational Method and System "Text" Scenario indicates both an
Internet (on-line) and a retail store location (off-line) or call
in request (off-line) to television, store, etc. offer approach.
(See FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 which, in turn, refer to additional figures
for further method and system explanation.)
An operational method and system "diagrammatic" scenario indicates
an Internet (on-line) approach. (See FIG. 7 which, in turn, refers
to additional figures for further method and system
explanation.)
An operational method and system "diagrammatic" scenario indicates
a retail store location (off-line) or call in request (off-line) to
television, store, etc. offer approach. (See FIG. 8 which, in turn,
refers to additional figures for further method and system
explanation.)
The method and system will employ "independent", ISP/Service
Provider/Product Supplier/Manufacturer/Travel/Entertainment, etc.
driven, single or multi-level ISP + club memberships (e.g., Bronze,
Silver, Gold and Platinum). (See FIG. 1 for certain exemplary
membership cards.)
The products and/or services discounts and super discounts offered
by the participating vendors and service providers are presented
"exclusively" to the ISP club members or alternatively to other
competing ISPs' club members, if those ISPs, too, are permitted
through licensing to use the method and system.
Instantaneous critical mass of both subscribers and participating
vendors is absolutely necessary at the launch date(s) for the
greatest success of such a venture; as subscribers will not be
satisfied with either just a few vendor participants and/or just a
few discounted or super discounted offerings, and, in turn, vendors
will neither be compelled nor will take the time and the effort to
offer substantial discounts and/or super discounts for just a few
subscribers.
To obtain the initial critical mass of subscribers with "limited"
or "standard" club memberships, these club memberships would be
simultaneously "gifted" to all of the subscribers of the ISP
providing the marketing and sales method and system. This would
immediately include many millions of individuals. These subscribers
neither ask for nor sign up for the initial memberships. All of the
necessary member information is already on file with the ISP that
the subscribers are using for internet access. The method of choice
for informing the subscribers of their individual memberships is by
e-mail. (This could be reinforced through a mass mailing option.)
All subscribers are addressed with the mass e-mail program in which
computer-generated club membership numbers and passwords are sent
with a brief description of the upcoming discount and super
discount vendor offering opportunities. No club membership cards
would need to be issued during the initial several month "gifted"
period.
To obtain the initial critical mass of product and service vendor
providers, the ISP would approach the existing vendors already
participating in the ISP's existing shopping and/or travel
offerings network(s). In addition, other corporations would be
approached with the opportunity of advertising to the new huge
subscriber audience created with this unique marketing and sales
concept.
The ISP should heavily advertise the upcoming event of the ISP +
club membership offering prior to e-mailing to all ISP subscribers
their limited or standard "gifted" several month ISP + Platinum
Club membership number and password as well as after the mass
e-mail effort. (A Platinum Club membership would give the ISP
subscribers access to the entire range of offerings as opposed to a
lesser value membership, so that the subscribers can later decide
whether nor not to continue with a "paid" membership at the time
that the initial "gifted" period ends and their initial membership
expires.) This major advertising promotion will insure both
widespread subscriber and vendor participation and result in a
financial bonanza for the ISP, as well as raise the bar in
"shopping" environments, making it very difficult for competitors
to follow.
The club memberships can preferably be divided into multiple types
to provide different offering opportunities depending upon the cost
of the individual membership, such as ISP + Bronze, ISP + Silver,
ISP + Gold and ISP + Platinum Club memberships. With separate
membership types, various values and areas of products and/or
services would be available with each of the different memberships
the higher cost memberships would include additional offerings
along with the offerings of the lesser value memberships. (See
FIGS. 2 and 3.)
For ISP subscribers wishing to continue with the ISP + Platinum
membership or one of the other three memberships (Bronze, Silver or
Gold), after the several month "gifted" period expires, a monthly
fee would be assessed and an actual MEMBERSHIP CARD issued along
with allowing the member to select a new PERSONALIZED password, if
one so desired.
Club memberships allow the holders not only to take advantage of
offerings on the Internet but also to take advantage of offerings
at the respective individual vendor's retail establishments,
restaurants, service organization, etc. locations throughout the
country or world. Any available ISP + club site Internet discount
offering on a product or service would automatically be applied, at
the time of the purchase of the same product or service, at the
register of the retail location(s) when the club card, or
appropriate club card if there are membership types, is
electronically read or "swiped", whether or not the club member is
aware of the offered discount or super discount on the Internet.
This will finally truly integrate the "virtual" and "real"
day-to-day worlds. (See FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.)
ISP/Vendor "discount" and "super discount" site pages would be
accessible only through the ISP's club membership pages which, in
turn, would be accessed either from the ISP's site or directly from
the individual vendor's/retailer's/etc. own site/home page/etc.
without first going to the ISP home page or other ISP sites. The
latter will bring up the ISP + club site requiring the member
number and password; however, once the member has finished viewing
the offerings and possible purchasing there, the member can then
return to the corporation's Internet pages but, respecting the
individual corporation, not to the full ISP discount and super
discount pages, protecting the participating corporation from
having members go to other competing providers or other offerings
through their own site, unless that corporation does not find such
movement objectionable. If the member had accessed the corporation
by first going through the ISP sites, then the member would have
full access to all of the other participating corporations'
discount and super discount as well as standard Internet sites
directly. Also, club members' selections by either the individual
companies' logos (see FIGS. 11, 12, 13, and 22) or by the
companies' names under the "item" directories (see FIGS. 14, 15,
16, and 23) will only bring up the discount pages and not proceed
directly to the individual vendors' home pages. And, after a club
member arrives at the individual ISP/vendor discount page(s), the
individual vendor's home page can then be reached directly or
returned to, if the original discount site access came from there,
to view the other vendor's offerings as presented to the general
public.
This new approach will be separate from and in addition to, not
instead of, the present offerings by the ISP. This offering is
truly unlike typical ISP shopping, or ISP travel offerings which,
in effect, merely mirror the offerings of almost all of the other
ISPs and/or other individual product or service vendors, relative
to actual savings.
The system & method is not just a series of controlled
single-day offerings at certain times of the year but rather a
continuous every day, all-year discounting effort, offering within
its format, specific day or hour specials. This new concept creates
a very dynamic platform/portal with participating vendors/service
providers constantly changing/modifying/adding/deleting the ISP +
club member offerings. This entices the members to check the sites
often so as not to miss any truly unique opportunities to save--not
waiting for some sporadic advertised sales event by a selected list
of non-competing retailers on a semi-static shopping site with very
few real discounted products/services.
It should be further noted that vendors totally control their own
discounts and super discounts and the pages on which they are
presented, indicating custom, or many, or one of a kind items, or
services, and/or limited time offers, and/or combination offers,
and/or out of stock/wait list (date) items, and/or lay-a-way,
and/or any other manner of products or services as well as flexible
payment arrangements to entice the ISP + club members. (Due to the
great value deals, individuals may well choose to purchase even
though they were not looking for a particular item or service--true
"impulse" buying.)
Vendors that are not interested in providing discounts or super
discounts on their products or services will not appear either by
logo or item listings within the ISP + club membership sites.
However, vendors that are interested will appear under item
listings and, if they choose, also separately with their company
logo. The logo may appear fixed, flashing, moving, enlarging, etc.
with or without relevant dates for the most recent added item(s)
("latest"), length of discount period ("until") or specific limited
day discounts ("only") can be indicated by the vendors providing
club members with all important timing information, if they wish to
review items for purchase (e.g.: latest: Jun. 4, 2003, 18 Items;
until: Jun. 20, 2003, 40% to 50%; and/or only: Jun. 15, 2003, 10 AM
to Noon). (See FIGS. 13 and 22.) In any case, vendors may also
appear on any or all of the other ISP shopping sites and/or ISP
travel sites.
Vendors offering only discounts or super discounts on very
inexpensive items (e.g., $1 off a $5 item) when they sell many high
priced items, just to entice ISP + club members to their site, will
be dropped from presenting offers, for it undermines the spirit and
intent of the concept by trying to skirt their obligation to offer
truly substantial dollar values for the "privilege" of having their
names seen on these sites by such a huge audience of potential
buyers even though they would have to pay to advertise on the
sites.
An important note is that the ISP + club membership sites are open
to all "qualified" product and/or service vendors. The ISP solely
reserves the right to determine what vendors meet the required
qualifications to be placed on these sites for viewing by their
membership. Quality, reliability, integrity, delivery and
warranties of offerings are just a few in the overall list of
necessary parameters for vendor participation.
The neutral platform will allow multiple vendors in multiple areas
to decide on their unique strengths and abilities to offer the
special discounts and super discounts. No individual store or
entity, not even the largest retail chains, would be able beat or
even match the vast array of potential offerings that can be put
forth by such a wide variety of vendors of untold products and/or
services. All qualified vendors will be welcome in all areas. (One
specific example in a non-asset based service industry involved in
travel and related service offerings separate from the individual
asset based provider companies would include companies such as
Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Orbitz.com, Priceline.com,
Travelocity.com, Hotwire.com, CheapTickets.com, etc.)
With the eventual widespread use of the ISP + club membership cards
at individual vendors' physical store locations as indicated above,
the ISP will become a major world discounting leader with a base so
large that other competing ISPs, without the use of the present
method and system, will find it difficult to hold the interest of
their shopping subscribers.
The ISP becomes a vendor itself in the ISP + club membership
scenario, able to promote through special limited or individual
month, second at half price or free, etc. discounts on the ISP's
own products and/or services.
The ISP can also promote its ISP VISA card (if one is offered by
the ISP) to handle the transactions through the ISP + club
environment by offering "extras" that are not available through
other VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, etc. cards with
those organizations.
Product and service offers can include custom, one or many of a
kind, limited time, combinations, wait-listed or out-of-stock, etc.
in addition to the more standard approach. Also, the products and
services can be purchased by credit card, check, money order, cash
(at a store register), etc. and either outright, multiple payments,
layaway, etc. giving the members numerous options that can be
tailored to their individual situations.
Since ISP + club memberships only address the special discounts and
super discounts on specific vendor offerings (unless other lesser,
wider based offerings are added), any existing other ISP shopping
and/or ISP travel offerings will remain viable and valuable
services in the ISP corporate family for interested subscribers.
The actual discounts on these other sites could also indicate the
percent discount from the list or MSRP, so that the members would
be able to realize their actual savings. (See FIG. 25.)
The ISP will hold sway over other ISPs with these unique discount
and super discount shopping content sites not incorporating this
discount approach. Subscribers who use other ISPs will have to
participate through "bring-your-own-access" to the ISP using this
service or lose out on the great deals. The "extra" monthly fees
might well make those subscribers decide to just switch to the ISP
offering the method and system. And eventually, those that are not
with any ISP might well decide to join the ISP when they see ISP +
club members checking out in line in front of them receiving the
automatic discounts at the same stores and on the same items that
they are paying full or higher prices.
As already discussed, the present method and system in various
embodiments can provide ISP + club memberships and/or non-ISP +
club memberships, and can allow a variety of different possible
membership types such as, for example, Bronze, Silver, Gold and
Platinum membership types both on-line and off-line. The method and
system can allow for discounted and super discounted pricing for a
variety of specific products, hotels, travel, services, etc., some
or all of which may be separate from and/or in addition to any
existing ISP shopping offerings, ISP travel offerings, or other
offerings.
The implementation of this business concept will position the ISP
as a neutral, price sensitive, quality Internet destination venue
or marketplace/portal for a most truly diversified range of
retail/wholesale, products/services on-line offerings, which are
also available off-line at the individual participants' physical
locations, whether or not the member(s) were first aware of the
Internet offering(s). Due to the unique nature of this concept, ISP
competitors will be hard pressed to replicate the success of this
approach, which will generate substantial annual revenue for the
ISP entity.
The potential advertising bonanza for participating providers of
goods and services through this club membership approach is almost
unlimited. Solid discounting and/or super discounting of items will
direct members to their individual discount/super discount pages
and then to the individual product buy pages with percentage
discounted pricing from the manufacturers' suggested retail prices
(MSRP) along with price and savings comparisons. From these pages
the club members can be directed into the providers' own individual
sites for additional sales opportunities on other goods and/or
services before returning to the club membership site. Advertising
to such a large audience of millions of members will justify
substantial advertising revenue to the ISP along with the revenue
generated from both the new membership fees and the potential
additional sales of other ISP goods and services through this
venture. These new areas of revenue will provide an enormous
capital infusion into the ISP entity along with a tremendous growth
period both in size and valuation for the corporation. The ISP can
hold sway over its rivals as they struggle to meet the new high bar
in this fiercely competitive Internet industry.
An extremely intensive and continuous marketing effort must be
supported by the ISP to allow sufficient personnel to contact and
adequate resources to deliver the message to both present and
potential future provider participants. The success of this major
integration of the virtual Internet and real world buyers'
marketplace environment of a multitude of providers, across a very
broad spectrum of goods and services, is to present both
discounting as well as super discounting on the costs of their
individual offerings. This will create a never before seen or even
contemplated assemblage--a truly grand amalgamated marketplace with
outstanding pricing, a buyer's dream.
Also as discussed above, in certain embodiments the present method
and system will involve a new marketing/sales method and system
concept in which the ISP (and/or non-ISP) possibly e-mails and/or
mails (or otherwise communicates) to all present ISP subscribers
and/or card holders offering an enormous discounted buyers
marketplace opportunity, in which a gift is provided from the ISP
to all its ISP subscribers and/or card holders.
The ISP is giving a unique gift to all its subscribers/card
holders, both individuals and/or organizations, by providing an
opportunity for both product/travel/hotel/service/etc. suppliers to
offer special discount and super discount pricing to all its
subscribers who, in turn, will benefit by the savings obtained on
purchases during an initial multiple month free trial club
membership period.
In certain embodiments, the ISP would offer four (4) club
membership types (see FIG. 1, showing cards for different types).
Namely, these types would be the following: ISP + Bronze Club
membership (see FIG. 2); ISP + Silver Club membership (see FIG. 2);
ISP + Gold Club membership (see FIG. 2); and ISP + Platinum Club
membership (see FIG. 3). The gift would be a limited*ISP + Platinum
Club membership, effective immediately, with an appropriate member
number and password. For example, a member might be assigned a
member number of 286 49973311 and a password of AFYS9987 (see FIG.
10 for a sign-in screen). These new + club memberships for on-line
and off-line use would be in addition to and separate from any
present ISP shopping, ISP travel, etc. offerings.
Following a possible three month (more or less) initial free
membership period, the gifted ISP + Platinum Club membership will
automatically expire. Should the member wish to continue with the
Platinum Club or wish to choose the Bronze, Silver or Gold Club
memberships, the member will have to contact the ISP. At that time,
the member would be sent a club membership card and could select a
new personalized password. This would then allow an individual or
organizational member to continue to receive club member savings on
future purchases and services. The limited multiple month club
membership might not include discounts on other services, benefits,
perks, fees, access charges, etc. offered by the ISP.
FIGS. 4-7 further show an ISP marketing/sales method and system
involving an ISP + club member system use scenario on-line
(Internet) and/or off-line (physical store location). FIGS. 4-6 in
particular show an on-line and off-line text scenario, while FIG. 7
in particular shows an Internet (on-line) diagrammatic scenario and
FIG. 8 shows a retail store location (off-line) diagrammatic/text
scenario.
Describing a use of the marketing/sales method and system, an ISP +
club member either logs onto the Internet from a computer or other
electronic device or the member enters the physical store location
of a particular Internet participating ISP + club vendor or service
provider. If the member chooses the Internet approach, the
individual can go to the Internet home page of the ISP provider
(see FIG. 9). From there, one can proceed to the general ISP + club
site (see FIG. 10). A non-club member or a club member who wishes
to upgrade to a higher membership can see the benefits and services
offered under each of the different club membership types (see
FIGS. 2 and 3).
On the ISP + club site, the member enters an assigned club member
number as well as a given or personalized password prior to being
able to purchase from any of the participating retailers, vendors,
service organizations, etc. The member can go to the ISP + Bronze
Club membership page, the ISP + Silver Club membership page, the
ISP + Gold Club membership page or the ISP + Platinum Club
membership page depending upon what club membership the individual
held (see FIG. 1 for possible membership card type examples). In
this particular scenario the member goes to the ISP Gold Club
membership page (see FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 22 for corporate logos,
or see FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 21 for item or area descriptions and
corporate listings).
The individual corporate logos can be selected by "clicking" on
same to proceed to the individual corporation's ISP/corporate
discount or super discount page(s). These logos can be fixed,
flashing, moving, enlarging, etc. to draw the attention of the
member. Also, additional information can be placed with the logos
indicating such things as the latest date that new items or
services have been placed on the corporation's discount or super
discount pages (e.g., latest: Jun. 15, 2003, 30 items), the date up
to which certain discounts will be valid (e.g., until: Jun. 20,
2003, 50% off) and/or a date and time of upcoming discounts (e.g.,
only: Jun. 22, 2003, noon-5 pm), etc. This helps members to make
certain informed judgments prior to actually going to any
individual participating corporation's site.
Under the item or area descriptions one can select individual
products or services and "drop-down" boxes where the corporate
names will appear for selection purposes (see FIGS. 16 and 21).
These individual names can be then "clicked" on to proceed to the
individual corporation's ISP/corporation discount or super discount
page(s). The discount (e.g., 20% to 55% plus free shipping) and
super discount (e.g., over 55% to 90% plus free shipping) pages
(see FIGS. 17, 18 and 23) indicate the items or areas of discount.
"Clicking" on one selection will bring up the item and item
description page (see FIGS. 19 and 24). "Clicking" on the
individual item selected will bring up the pricing/percent (%) off
of the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) discount page
(see FIGS. 20 and 24).
The member can purchase the item or place any selection in a
shopping cart or basket for purchase or later elimination following
reviewing other items for purchase. Items or services offered by
the vendor, retailers, service providers, etc. can be for example
even one-of-a-kind as opposed to having many available, the member
can be offered to purchase more than one for an equal or greater
discount, combined offers of items or services can also allow for a
greater discount opportunity, out-of-stock items can be offered
with a reorder time period indicated, similarly waitlist items can
be offered also to be available within a time range, etc. To
purchase the products and services, the member may pay the amount
in full at the time of purchase, use a time payment plan by paying
a specified amount per month until the total is reached, pay on a
lay-away basis whereas the item or service is sent, picked-up or
available when the full purchase price has accumulated, etc.
Members using the Internet could opt to pay using a credit card,
check, money order, etc., whereas, members purchasing in a physical
retail store location and paying at a register can, in addition to
the aforementioned, use cash. Members shopping in participating
vendors' stores "automatically" would receive the same discount or
super discount that the vendors are offering on the Internet when
the member shows and has the ISP club membership card "swiped" at
the time of purchase, even if the member was not aware that the
item to be purchased had the additional discount available. This
offering through the use of the ISP + club membership card truly
integrates the virtual world of the Internet with the physical
world of the day-to-day reality.
After purchasing or just viewing the possible discount and super
discount offers on the Internet site of a participating
corporation, the member can go to the home page of the vendor to
view other offerings that were available, continue searching
through other vendors' sites using the method and system, go back
to any previous site visited, go to other sites on the Internet, or
log off the Internet.
Depending upon the embodiment, the ISP (and/or non-ISP) + club
membership cards can have a variety of characteristics in use,
including those which are associated with the level of the card
(e.g., Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum or one level). This
following discussion addresses, in additional detail, exemplary
actual physical club membership discount card characteristics and
merchant/member steps in operation/use for the above-described
method and system with club memberships for discounted buying on
the Internet and at store locations. In particular, the following
discussion continues in the presentation of certain exemplary
individual aspects of the aforementioned method and system with
club memberships relative to online/offline integration for the
national/international, retail/wholesale, products/services,
discounted buying marketplace:
The initial "gifted" or free ISP or non-ISP + club membership
discount and super discount card would be Platinum, if multiple
levels rather than one level of membership were decided to be
offered. Including the option of multiple levels, the club card
could either be only a discount card or both a discount as well as
a payment card.
The first option (the "two-card approach") is for the + club card
to not also serve as a payment card but rather only a discount and
loyalty card which can be used with or without other in-store
discount cards, which would give additional and separate savings
from those available with the + club card. Any item(s) then to be
purchased with the discounts deducted by using this club membership
card would then be paid for by a variety of methods including
credit or debit card (e.g., VISA, Master Card, American Express
Card, Discover Card, Japan Credit Bureau, Diners Club
International, Debit Cards, etc.), check, money order or cash.
FIGS. 26-29 respectively show exemplary methods of payment,
exemplary samples of available credit and debit cards, exemplary
business to business credit, and an exemplary VISA + Platinum card
with or without a merchant discount card and methods of
payment.
With the two-card approach, the discount card being separate from
any of the aforementioned payment cards, any credit, debt or no
cardholder could get a + club card, for credit limitations are not
applicable. Since multiple credit or debit cards, checks, money
orders or cash can be used for purchases, the discount card can be
used universally by the greatest number of purchasers.
The second option (the "one-card approach") is for the + club card
to serve as both a discount and a payment card. With the one-card
approach there is obviously one less card needed than with using
the two-card approach. However, one must then be a credit or debit
cardholder to obtain a + club discount card, making credit
worthiness and limits applicable. Also, if the credit or debit card
with which the + club card is combined is "maxed out" or at its
limit, the discount card portion would automatically be void until
the credit or debit limitation was rectified. Numerous side-by-side
1-card versus 2-card advantages/disadvantages are shown on two
Analysis Sheets using VISA as an example of a possible major
organization to issue the + club memberships--VISA + club
membership cards (for a VISA example, see FIGS. 32 & 33).
A "magnetic strip" on the back of a card would be used similar to a
debit card with a password or "pin" number or without a password
like a credit card for verification of the authenticity of the +
club card by being "swiped" in a card reader or with "pass"
technology at the point of sale or register offline in a physical
store location(s) (for a VISA example, see FIG. 31). When making a
purchase online, one would enter the card number via keystroke or
using "accessory" card reader equipment, again with or without a
password or "pin" number. Verification is necessary to prevent
unauthorized use of a phony manufactured facsimile card in an
attempt to fraudulently avoid paying the required + club membership
fees. Also, the magnetic strip identifier allows the card to be
voided at the end of a "free" or "paid" time period, as well as
when the card is reported by the legitimate cardholder to the +club
member issuing corporation or financial institution to be misplaced
or stolen. Cardholder purchasing habits can be tracked through the
magnetic strip and/or through the bar code as indicated below.
Following authenticity verification using the magnetic strip or
"smart" chip, a "bar code" on the back of the card would be
"scanned" (just as where in-store merchant discount cards with bar
codes are scanned), to activate any discounts available to the
purchaser being a + club member. The + club memberships may come in
one or more levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum). With
multiple levels, the bar codes would incorporate different sets for
each level. The in-store bar code on the individual in-store
discount card would continue to give discounts just as they do now.
Then, with multiple levels, the + Bronze Club card would not give
the regular in-store discounts but rather discounts other than
those available with the individual in-store card. The + Silver
Club card would give the discounts available on the + Bronze Club
card as well as additional discounts. The + Gold Club card would
give the discounts available on the + Bronze Club card and the +
Silver Club card as well as additional discounts. And finally, the
+ Platinum Club card would give discounts available on the + Bronze
Club card, the + Silver Club card and the + Gold Club card as well
as additional discounts (again, FIG. 31 shows a VISA example). As
aforementioned, additional loyalty rewards for the individual
cardholders would also be available via tracking, depending upon
the purchasing price totals and/or volumes and/or choices.
Prior to this method and system, the need did not exist to have
multiple bar coded discount "group" levels read at any individual
store locations. While the separate identifying bar codes of the
individual products are presently read at the register and any
additional discounts for the daily, weekly, etc. in-store special
discounted items entered into the store system/back room operations
are given to purchasers using the in-store discount card with its
bar code. Since the present in-store cards are "free", and since
they only work within a particular store, while identifying
products along with customer use through the individualized bar
codes for that customer, there was absolutely no reason to provide
multiple levels of discounting requiring multiple bar coded
discount "systems" within any individual store's operations.
The + club card "bar code(s)" will run on the same network as the
in-store "bar code" discounts, but access different items and
discount amounts. The additional "bar code(s)" (one or one for each
level if using multiple level club cards) will be integrated into
both the register and the back room operations of the participating
stores, using the same existing or similar compatible technology,
dramatically simplifying the + club card implementation in both
time and cost (again, FIG. 31 shows a VISA example).
The discounts and super discounts offered offline can be or will be
the same as those offered by the individual participating merchants
online, for those offering both online and offline discounts, as
shown on an Internet shopping web site(s), portal(s) or hub(s).
This will be the first truly universal online/offline integration
concept brought to fruition (see FIG. 34 for an in-store
advertising example).
The + club cards can also incorporate the use of "smart" chip card
technology to track and store additional data allowing greater
flexibility in use, loyalty solution benefits and recording
features (although, transferring information from the thousands of
in-store discount cards would never happen, not to mention that
merchants use their in-store discount cards with their individual
names as part of their advertising/marketing programs). This
"smart" chip technology will be able to incorporate the transfer of
data from the Internet online offerings of participating merchants
to their individual offline store's point of sale/register
locations in "real time"--potentially being able to replace the bar
code requirement when and if desired by the participating
merchants. In contrast, other data tracking and loyalty solutions
address tracking of purchases with "bulk" transfers once every
twenty-four (24) hours (see FIGS. 30, 32 and 33 for a VISA
example).
However, "smart" cards require additional development and
implementation requirements, which are both timely and costly to
member partner financial institutions and to merchants wishing to
integrate such technology into existing operations (again, see
FIGS. 30, 32 and 33 for the VISA example). The initial and even
continued future use of "magnetic strips" and "bar codes" would
allow for immediate implementation of the concept to include
approximately 60% of the existing merchants which address
approximately 90% of the retail/wholesale marketplace. The "smart"
technology can be integrated into the concept as it is developed
and implemented at each merchant's locations with both required
software and hardware considerations.
This concept is the first true Internet online/in-store offline
integrated at point of sale (POS) registers in real time, marketing
and sales, method and system for the discount purchasing of goods
and services. Universal preferred customer club membership cards,
"Your Shopping Companion", are issued with club memberships.
Examples of non-ISP providers that could be name identified on the
club membership cards are major banks and financial associations
that issue credit and/or debit cards and/or reward cards and/or
gift cards, etc. include, in alphabetical order, American Express,
Bank of America (includes Fleet and MBNA), Capital One, Chase
(includes Bank One), Citigroup, Discover, HSBC, Providian, Wells
Fargo and US Bank as one embodiment of the present invention (See
FIG. 35). Also, multi-level (Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze) +
Club Cards are one additional embodiment of the present invention
addressing different areas and valuations of purchasing (See FIG.
36). These card issuing institutions and associations presently
have records of consumer information as it relates the issuance of
payment cards to their individual customers. This information will
allow these organizations to select a strong demographic of proven
buyers from their existing credit and debit cardholders to which
they issue the initial free temporary club membership cards to
satisfy the critical mass requirement of consumers desired by
merchants and manufacturers participating in offering discounts to
a large enough audience of potential buyers as part of the
implementation procedure at start-up to launch the concept.
Examples of potential advertising implementation literature can be
seen at FIG. 37, FIG. 38, FIG. 39, FIG. 40 and FIG. 41.
The universal preferred customer club membership cards are
preferably only discount cards and not also payment cards, actual
purchases being made by credit cards, debit cards, reward cards,
checks, money orders or cash. There will be no cost to the issuing
institutions for the free temporary discount cards or any of the
marketing notices, flyers, venture advertising or mailings. The
card issuing institutions will receive a percentage of the annual +
Club fees generated from payments for the permanent discount cards
for the marketing of club discount cards issued under their
institution name. Also, these club discount cards provide a dual
advertising venue by marketing the names of the issuing
institutions along with the + Club memberships. These non-payment +
Club cards will also enhance the use of the card issuing
institutions payment cards. Additionally, the card issuing
institutions' payment cards use can be further enhanced by the
institutions offering reward or percentage incentives to use the
institution named + Club discount cards with a similarly named
institutional payment card.
The critical mass of venture start-up consumers (i.e.: 100 million
present credit card and debit card holders) selected by the
aforementioned examples of major card issuing institutions and
associations would be sent temporary free fully activated club
membership cards simultaneously at venture launch. These universal
club membership discount cards will immediately allow these
selected consumers to receive special discounts on products and
services both online on the Internet and offline in stores at point
of sale (POS) registers (i.e.: 5% to 50% off the MSRP) or super
discounts (i.e.: 51% to 90% off the MSRP). Following a time period
(i.e.: three months) temporary club members can purchase permanent
annual memberships and receive permanent discount cards, optionally
paid for with a credit or debit card in total or monthly. The
magnetic strip identification permitting access to the discounts
and bar coded discount system technology will provide the consumer
a record of the discount purchases on their register receipts.
Smart card technology along with radio frequency identification
(RFID) technology or pass technology are other future possible card
enhancements. Consumers can shop in stores or order on the Internet
and pick-up purchases at actual store locations if in stock or to
be shipped to the stores from remote locations if not in stock for
pick-up or request that Internet purchases be shipped to them
directly
Examples of potential major merchant participants, in alphabetical
order, include Ace Hardware, Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble,
Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Blockbuster, Bloomingdale's,
Borders Group, Circuit City, GAP, The Home Depot, Ikea, JC Penney,
Kmart, Kohl's, Linens-n-Things, Lowe's, Macy's, Marshall Field's,
Marshalls, Menards, Nordstrom, Office Depot, Office Max, Old Navy,
Pottery Barn, Radio Shack, Sears, Staples, Target, TJ Maxx, Toys
"R" Us, Walgreens, Wal*Mart, and Williams Sonoma. With merchants
hosting + Club banner links on their main Internet sites to allow
consumers to view their + Club discounts and/or super discounts
area on the main + Club Internet site, a reciprocal advertising
venue is created actually advertising + Club memberships (See FIG.
42 & FIG. 43.).
This vast multi-channel online/offline approach to marketing and
selling will generate substantial additional revenue for merchants
and manufacturers as never before, multiplying consumer spending
while driving in-store growth at brick-and-mortar locations.
Approximately 96% of shopping takes place in the real or physical
world in store locations; whereas, approximately 4% of shopping
occurs in the virtual world on the Internet. Once in the actual
store locations to make a planned expenditure, according to
statistical research, up to 60% of the total final purchases by
consumers will consist of items other than those originally sought.
Marketing to the enormous demographic of proven shoppers via the
huge Internet site for no fees will be a unique opportunity for
both merchants and manufacturers. Unlike typical ad revenue driven
Internet providers (i.e.: Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, etc.), with the
annual membership fee driven club venture, on the + Club Internet
portal site there will be no logo or name listing charges, no
advertising charges, no product or service offerings charges, no
per click charges, no percentage of final sale charges and no site
management or operational charges. All base software, the
integration and its installation into the individual merchant's
host systems of the fully electronic system at their point of sale
(POS) registers will also be free to those merchants participating
in the initial venture launch along with an allowance to assist in
developing their individual site pages to appear on the main site.
A manual coupon system for in-store discounting at their registers
is an option to the fully automated electronic system for merchants
desiring same in a manner similar to services as provided by
organizations like E-centives.
Loyalty Software Specialists (i.e.: Catuity Incorporated, etc.)
offering membership and reward card programs with their
relationships with POS terminal manufactures, ECR manufactures,
store system suppliers, card associations, integrators, card
suppliers and manufacturers, etc. will participate in base software
development and integration of online/offline data transfer in real
time to point of sale (POS) registers of the individual and/or
multiple host systems of the participating merchants.
Corporations offering enterprise software and IT services providing
integrated solutions and business consulting services (i.e.: IBM,
EDS, Compuware, etc.) are some of the other participants in the
venture implementation process addressing the enormous base
software integration requirements into the numerous merchants' host
systems at the multitude of store locations.
Major merchant check-out cash register and equipment manufacturers
(i.e: IBM (with a 60% dominant market share of the top 100
retailers worldwide), NCR, NCI, Dell, HP, etc.) with both their
strong relationships with merchants and manufacturers and presence
at the point of sale (POS) with in-store sales can enhance their
existing relationships by offering the individual merchants free
participation in the + Club offering while providing the needed
assurance to the merchants of the overall base software integration
process within the closely guarded secure individual and/or
multiple host systems of these merchants already using their
equipment while gaining financially through their own
participation.
ISP or Internet Search Engine providers (i.e.: Google, Yahoo, MSN,
AskJeeves, AOL, etc.) with their relationships with merchants and
manufacturers via advertising, marketing and sales to their
individual audiences of consumers also can enhance these
relationships with both merchants and manufacturers by offering
free participation with + Club to their individual corporate
clients while gaining financially through their own
participation.
Internet shopping site operators and management services addressing
online marketing and loyalty programs directed to financial and
retail companies (i.e.: Trilegiant Corporation (Cendant), IAC,
etc.) with their relationships with merchants and manufacturers and
Internet sales and marketing offerings provide online shopping
fundamentals experience.
Major call center operations within the United States and/or in
other countries will address the enormous customer relations
requirements associated with such a large membership base and the
necessary amalgamation of participating corporations.
The concept incorporates an amalgamation of corporate entities to
develop, integrate, implement and service the method and system for
participating retailers and manufacturers to offer discounts and
super discounts on goods and services, both online and offline, to
a proposed large initial number (e.g. 100,000,000) of club
members--a targeted audience of proven buying consumers
(symbolically indicated by a sphere) not just Internet users,
viewers, social networkers or garners (See FIG. 44). Eleven (11)
possible major card issuing financial institutions (e.g. seven (7)
banks and four (4) associations) are proposed to provide the names
of these initial consumers by selecting them from their individual
lists of valued credit and debit cardholders. These card issuers
will be rewarded in areas relative to marketing their brand names,
expanded the use of their credit and debit cards and receive
percentages of the club membership fees for concept marketing
services to their respective cardholders who become paying club
members (See FIG. 45). An initial group of major participating
merchants (retailers) and manufacturers (e.g. thirty-two) will
provide the special selected discounted and super discounted goods
and services for purchase by the proposed club members, both online
and offline. These retailers and manufacturers will receive access
to the large group of proven buying club members via a free
marketing, advertising and sales portal (See FIG. 46). The proposed
club organization, symbolically indicated by a smaller sphere along
with implementers, integrators, Internet search engine, suppliers
and vendors (e.g. twenty-three) will support the club method and
system which uniquely combines the offerings of each of the above
participating organizations for the club members (See FIG. 47). The
club goal is to offer, all from one site, special selected
discounts on products and services by many thousands of retailers
and manufacturers both online and offline in store locations
worldwide. There will be no longer be the need for consumers to
begin a product or service search by attempting to individually
look through the offerings of a few of the thousands of separate
retailer or manufacturer Internet sites or through a few of the
hundreds of shopping or discount shopping Internet sites to direct
their shopping scenarios.
An organizational chart of participating entities involved in
various aspects of providing the club membership, universal
marketing, advertising and sales method and system including the
software application product providers (software and software
developers, the application service provider and the IT
infrastructure provider), the Internet search engine provider, the
middleware providers (in-store infrastructure providers, in-store
software providers and vendors and service providers), the major
credit and debit card manufacturers, the discounted product
providers (major card issuing banks and associations, major
merchants and manufacturers) and consumers (See FIG. 48) shows the
categories of responsibility of the various participating
corporations.
A participant, component and transactional overview graphic
including the roles of retailers, card issuing banks and
associations, service providers, and consumers addressing product
viewing through actual purchase scenarios operationally in both
physical store locations and on the club member Internet web site
(See FIG. 49) shows the operational interrelationships between the
various corporations and the club members along with actual steps
to purchase the discounted product offers, both online and
offline.
Non-payment, bank name branded club membership cards offer unique
marketing opportunities for card issuing financial institutions
(banks and associations) along with the enhanced use of these card
issuers' credit and debit cards (See FIG. 50). Shown are three (3)
non-payment discount access, bank name branded (e.g. Chase, Bank of
America and Citi) universal preferred customer, platinum club
membership cards to be used by club members when purchasing goods
and services on the Internet online and in stores offline, on the
phone or using catalogs along with benefits accrued for the card
issuing financial institutions' participation in the method and
system--all club cards optionally marketed as "Your Shopping
Companion".
There can be many possible club card designs. Shown is an alternate
exemplary club membership card front-face design (See FIG. 51) as
compared to card fronts shown in the prior submitted FIG. 31, both
figures also showing an exemplary club card plus bronze, silver,
gold and platinum magnet strip and barcode cards along with
statements of card discounts--bronze for bronze discounts; silver
for bronze and silver discounts; gold for bronze, silver and gold
discounts; and platinum for bronze, silver, gold and platinum
discounts.
Retail categories indicating potential products or services
proposed to be offered with discounted and super discounted pricing
to club members under each of the four (4) club card types (e.g.
Bronze--Books, magazines, music, videos/DVDs, Gifts and flowers),
(e.g. Silver--Bronze offerings plus cable, movies, tickets,
toys/games, restaurants and food/cooking), (e.g. Gold--Bronze and
Silver offerings plus ISP broadband, computers, electronic
equipment, jewelry/watches, sport equipment, clothing/shoes/purses,
pharmaceuticals, health, office supplies, movies (pay-per-view) and
cameras) and (e.g. Platinum--Bronze, Silver and Gold offerings plus
appliances, hotels, airfare, cruises, auto rental, cell phones,
events (pay-per-view), furniture (home and office), automobiles,
insurance and moving) (See FIG. 52) similar to those shown in the
prior submitted FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.
As indicated in FIG. 51, there are many possible club card designs.
FIG. 53 shows an alternate exemplary club membership card
front-face design as compared to card fronts shown in the prior
submitted FIG. 29, both figures also showing exemplary club
membership cards used with credit cards, debit cards, discount
cards and other payment types (P)--as the club cards are typically
non-payment instruments with the credit cards, debit cards,
merchant cards, gift cards, checks, money orders or cash being the
actual payment instruments.
The additional branding and marketing opportunity for the host
Internet search engine provider (e.g. Yahoo!) provided by the club
membership cards, separate from that of either the club or the card
issuing institutions, can be realized through both color
representation like a purple band on the card face and the hosts
name and/or logo on the card back (See FIG. 54).
The credit and/or debit card issuer loyalty reward programs
typically offer bonus points on qualifying purchases redeemable
with selected merchandise, by check or gift card or the earning of
1% cash back on all purchases or 2% rebate on eligible gas, travel
and dining purchases the benefits accruing to the holders account
up to eight weeks after original purchase; whereas, the club can
offer substantially greater benefits of from 5% to 90% off
manufacturers suggested retail prices, immediately at the time of
purchase, on products and services as specially selected by
participating merchants and manufacturers, as would be available to
club members using the one universal preferred customer club
discount access, non-payment card approach (See FIG. 55).
The accumulation of loyalty/rewards with typically offered programs
by credit and/or debit card issuers, including banks, associations
and merchants, using issuer paid, merchant paid or a combination of
issuer and merchant paid points or cash back approaches as compared
with the universal non-payment club approach shows that due to a
variety of payment cards available, the card holder is penalized if
using more than one card to obtain maximum reward benefits. Each
separate card accounts for any reward point or cash back separate
from any other and the totals are separate and applied to each card
individually, not collectively between cards, for any respective
card paid purchases. Whereas, the club card can work universally
with all participating merchants and in conjunction with all
payment types, including credit cards, debit cards, reward cards,
gift cards, checks, money orders or cash, letting the holder to
accumulate combined totals in the multiple venues along with
rewarding and documenting loyalty immediately at the time of each
purchase, not weeks or months later requiring diligent holder
follow-up to assure that the savings have been credited to each
respective account (See FIG. 56).
Free temporary universal platinum club membership cards name
branded by eleven (11) card separate issuing financial institutions
(e.g. Listed alphabetically: American Express, Bank of America,
CapitalOne, Chase, Citi, Discover, HSBC, MasterCard, US Bank, Visa,
and Wells Fargo) along with the proposed number of these club
membership cards, determined by the club, to be issued by each bank
or association out of the initial proposed one hundred million
temporary club cards at method and system launch can be based upon
the issuing institutions' individual market shares of the total
issued and presently active credit card and debit card accounts
(See FIG. 57). Individual card issuers can opt to issue more of
their own name branded club cards that their individual allotted
number, but at their own expense.
A sequential text diagram compares Internet online and in-store
offline shopping scenarios for both club members and non-club
members from product viewing to product purchasing (See FIG. 58).
Retailers and manufacturers will be able to market and sell to the
large club membership for "free" on the club Internet web site
shopping portal, offering special selected discounts on both
products and services. These offerings will be viewed online and
then purchased either online or in physical store locations.
Driving consumers into their brick and mortar locations to buy is
the preferred desire of retailers.
In-store club member consumer's register receipts will show
products, the club membership discounts and the total savings or
products, the club membership discounts along with both additional
separate retailer and card issuer discounts applied and the total
savings on the purchase--as product, price and discount data
relative to the participating retailers' offerings, shown on the
club Internet site, are electronically transferred in real-time to
the point-of-sale (POS) electronic sash registers (ECR's) of the
individual retailers (See FIG. 59).
The club monthly activity and savings summary report shown
indicates an individual member's product or service purchases by
date, merchant and manufacturer, products, retail price, club
price, percent saved, amount saved and dates of purchase for all
purchases along with daily, monthly and yearly totals of retail
prices, club prices and club discount savings to date, which can
then be compared to the annual club membership fee to understand
the actual net savings received up to that point in time. Members
can also perform other club actions from this page like
reviewing/updating their individual club profile, shop all
departments, return to the club shopping home page, submit a
merchant/manufacturer/product/service rating report, enter a
message on the club social network message board forum, view/rate
online advertising videos, enter a search request, ask a question,
etc. (See FIG. 60).
Along with advertising videos, club members will be able to rate
and make comments relative to individual merchants, manufacturers,
products and services (See FIG. 61). This advertising related
social networking aspect in conjunction with the professional and
amateur advertising video submitting, rating and commenting social
networking approach are at the core of the club merchant and
manufacturer directed marketing, advertising and sales concept. The
results of these ratings, both good and poor, by club members will
be shared with the respective retailer or manufacturer, so they can
understand how their buying consumers view their individual
offerings and will allow the retailers and manufacturers to improve
any deficiencies and retain good practice to help hold existing
customers and to garner new ones. This is in direct contrast with
the typical present social networking site offerings which are
based on the adjunct incorporation of advertising within, by
definition, personal communication/sharing, ad disassociated
business models, thereby having to be tentative, even fearing to
alienate their members with a too aggressive or disruptive ad
approach while convincing merchants and manufacturers that the
return on their offerings in such an environment is worth the cost
of participation. Whereas, the entire foundation of the club is an
online/offline method and system, marketing, advertising and sales
venue is intended to be "free" to participating merchants and
manufacturers who will provide information, financial and socially
interactive benefits to paying club consumer members--a huge
demographic of proven buyers not just a large diverse group of
people interested in communicating and sharing specific personal
information with their friends and associates, their intended
participation, by definition, being unrelated to making product and
service purchases of any kind. Due to the intention of club being
an annual membership fee driven revenue approach instead of being
an advertising fee driven revenue approach as with the other
present offerings, with the possible exceptions for unique or
special advertising venues, merchants and manufacturers
participating on the club Internet web site shopping portal will be
assessed no logo or name listing charges, no advertising charges,
no product or service offerings charges, no per "click" charges, no
cost-per-action charges, no percentage of final sales charges and
no site management or operational charges. This also is
diametrically opposite to the present conventional wisdom approach
of today.
The club member social networking forum for general club member
discussion will allow for individual member comments,
recommendation and general communication on a wide variety of
subjects including these relative to buying and selling such as
products, brands, services, videos, ads, discounts, manufacturers,
retailers and the club itself, plus upcoming/prior sale events,
club activities along with the ratings, posting times and dates,
number of replies and number of views, all placed for other members
response and/or information (See FIG. 62). This is an important
social networking aspect in a spread sheet format allowing for club
members to truly interact with each other in an open comment,
response, rating venue, addressing all areas of their shopping
experience.
Logos of some proposed participating retailers are shown along with
a listing of some of the proposed free Internet advertising and
marketing benefits accruable to retailers and manufacturers
participating in the club method and system including no logo or
name listing charges, no advertising charges, no key word charges,
no product or service offerings charges, no per "click" charges, no
cost-per-action charges, no percentage of final sales charges and
no site management or operational charges (See FIG. 63).
The club Internet web site shopping portal Home Page is shown with
club member information, coveted advertiser presentation locations,
and club member number/password sign-in format card allowing the
members to receive the merchant and manufacturer discounts and
super discounts, along with optionally offering an additional
incentive to signing in, for that by doing so would automatically,
once per day, generate individual member entries for monthly
drawings to award member prizes. All shopping departments are
indexed at the left margin to allow for ease in immediately
accessing the specific areas of interest for the club members.
Specially rewarded merchants selected by the club for being among
the best in discount offerings participation (e.g. JC Penney and
Kohl's) are given prime club home page advertising video placement.
One can "click" on these videos for viewing, one can "click" to see
this merchant's additional ad videos and one can "click" to see a
club page listing all of the present participating merchants' and
manufacturers' ad videos. This start page also continues down to
additional club selected merchants' and manufacturers' names/logos
(See FIG. 65), which when "clicked" on link to the club's
individual participating merchant's and manufacturer's special
discount and super discount pages along with other product and
service discounting information seen in full. This video ad method
and system, marketing and advertising platform presents a unique
social networking aspect directed to a proven demographic of buyers
both club members and non-club members interested in products and
services offered by merchants and manufacturers. This alternative
can be compared to that shown in the prior submitted FIG. 10, which
shows an exemplary (AOL.com) Internet home page with a club member
number/password sign-in (P) and to the shopping department indexing
as compared to that shown in prior FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.
The club discount and super discount participating corporate
retailer and manufacturer logos page, selected by the club for
their generous and consistent product and service discounted
offerings provided to club members, will be rewarded with prominent
positions surrounding a circular club membership/card information
access link with full Internet screen (See FIG. 65), as compared
with that shown in the prior submitted FIG. 13, which shows an
exemplary (AOLTW) D & SD corporate logos page with full
Internet screen (P). Clicking on these logo will give one direct
access to the individual retailer's or manufacturer's products and
services discounted for club members;
The club Internet Home Page as seen in FIG. 64 shows the additional
shopping department indexing detail listing Health & Beauty)
(See FIG. 66). Each of these areas can also have further indexed
detail listings to direct a member to a specific area of interest
as compared to the additional detailed indexing shown in, prior
FIG. 16 and FIG. 21.
A Men's Grooming page can be arrived at by first selecting Health
& Beauty along with Hair Care in FIG. 66, showing six (6)
different electric razors, five of which are discounted and
available at retailers (e.g. Wal*Mart, Kohl's & Target) and one
which is discounted and available directly from a manufacturer
(e.g. Remington) (See FIG. 67).
A manufacturer page (e.g. Remington), can be arrived at by a
"click" on Remington in FIG. 67, showing a discounted electric
razor along with a product description and pricing information (See
FIG. 68). This will allow manufacturers to sell directly to the
public, bypassing retailers.
The participating club merchants and manufacturers will also be
marketing and advertising on the host's search engine sites (e.g.
Microsoft) in banner and text formats to be eligible for greater
prominent placement exposure gifted by the host for marketing,
advertising and sales access to the club site and its large buying
membership audience (FIG. 69). The shows an exemplary Microsoft
Bing search engine results page advertising by retailers along with
club discounts under two areas of sponsored results for Women's
Clothing (Shop and find all brands of Women's Clothing at
discounted prices) and Shop Women's Clothing (Shop all Styles and
Brands in Ladies Fashion at Discounted Prices), both at
http://www.plusclubinternational.com.
The club shopping page illustrated indicates a special placement of
merchants by those shown advertising on one of the host's shopping
pages being rewarded by being given additional prominence in the
club venue (See FIG. 70). This shopping page (e.g. Women's
Clothing) shown as being hosted by an Internet search engine (e.g.
Microsoft's Bing) with six (6) merchants given a free listing
"gifted" by the club and the Internet search engine provider for
retailers and manufacturers with possible optional requirements
including that, in turn, the determination for names/logos
positioning placement within the club portal be decided in part by
the consistency of the retailers and manufactures in placing
discounts and super discounts for the club members, and to a lesser
degree, along with their placing paid advertising on the host
Internet search engine provider's (e.g. Microsoft) main Internet
venue(s); however, in the latter case, required only if the
individual retailers and manufacturers place paid advertise on
other competitive major search engine providers' venues (e.g.
Google, Yahoo, Ask or AOL).
A club Internet merchant (e.g. Target) page, arrived at by a
"click" on Target on FIG. 70, offering a discounted product (e.g.
V-Neck Dress) to club members describing the product and indicating
savings and instructions to purchase, headed with a club banner and
Internet search engine provider (e.g. Microsoft's Bing) (See FIG.
71).
Merchants and manufacturers presently have Internet web sites
promoting their organizations, products and services. Each of these
sites has a Home Page that acts as a directory from which viewers
can access different pages and areas within their web sites. The
club would have a club Internet web site banner link on merchant's
or manufacturer's Internet Site Home Pages (e.g. Target) showing
the Internet search engine provider (e.g. Microsoft's Bing) (See
FIG. 72). A "click" on this banner would take one to the merchant's
present specially selected club product or service discounts and
super discounts, viewable by club members and non-club members, but
only offered to club members. Using this link one can then only
return to this merchant's site and not to the sites showing other
merchants' club product or service discounts. This feature prevents
other competing merchants or manufacturers from using the club to
pull viewers away from the initial merchant or manufacturer who has
allowed the club banner link to be placed on their home page. This
is compared to those retailer examples shown in the prior submitted
FIG. 23 (e.g. Sears), FIG. 42 (e.g. Sears) and FIG. 43 (e.g. The
Home Depot) as individual retailer home pages. However, viewers can
address all of the other merchants' and manufacturers' Internet web
sites when the viewer initially accesses the club Internet web site
directly through the club Internet home page--be it by entering it
via the club web site address on their own or by being linked to
the club home page from other search, text or banner links on the
Internet.
A retailer's (e.g. Target) women's dress page is shown with four
(4) dress offers along with club discounts off the retail price and
with the percentage saved (See FIG. 73).
One of many manufacturers (e.g. Proctor & Gamble, P&G)
Internet Beauty & Grooming site pages is shown listing their
brands. The inclusion of club logos placed at the individual brands
would be one optional method to indicate those brands providing
product discounts for the club's members, selling directly to the
public, bypassing retailers (See FIG. 74).
The typical tracking of merchants' and manufacturers' advertising
effectiveness presently offered by Internet search engine provider
advertising approaches is seriously lacking in providing
advertisers the needed information to make informed decisions
relative to ads as well as ad placement. Not only are the ads and
ad information presently Internet based, which according to
industry statistics accounts for only 6% of actual product and
service purchases as compared to 94% of purchases being made in
real world environments like brick-and-mortar store locations, many
questions such as: Where exactly their ad will get placed?, Why
exactly they shut them down?, What are the network-level ad
performance figures?, How overall click rates have changed over
time?, Who clicked on the ads?, What leads to higher placement
among ads?, How does one evaluate the quality of a text ad?, From
what countries do the users come?, On what basis are publishers
paid? and What is the research on ad effectiveness? are either not
fully addressed or not addressed at all. In a stark contrast, the
method and system, marketing, advertising and sales approach of
this applicant provides the tracking of Internet viewing by club
members of merchants' and manufacturers' discounted product and
service offerings along with being able to then relate that
activity to actual purchases of products and services both on the
Internet as well as at point-of-sale checkout registers in physical
brick-and-mortar store locations that will be used by the member
consumers. This unparalleled tracking capabilities of club members'
shopping interests and actions, will be possible through the use of
club member numbers and passwords, which the members will enter on
the club Internet Home Page sign-in card, allowing retailers to
judge the true effectiveness of their Internet marketing and
advertising offers by following individual club member's viewing of
specific retailer (e.g. Target) products on the Internet and then
seeing those same products being purchased by that individual club
member in that specific retailer's physical store location--or in
some cases, even in a competitive retailer's store location. This
tracking aspect will allow for fact based analysis as opposed to
the more arbitrary typical data collection via cookies, search
queries, ad words, text and display ads or the number of "clicks"
on any given offerings. Such tracking will be able to inform the
merchants and manufacturers of the true effectiveness of their
marketing and advertising programs resulting in actual sales (See
FIG. 75). The use of an all encompassing Internet web site shopping
portal concept incorporating marketing, advertising and sales in
one location as opposed to arbitrary or selective text, word,
banner ad placement throughout arbitrary Internet pages answers
many of the aforementioned concerns and invites buyers to peruse
merchants' and manufacturers' offerings worldwide with one site
access, creating convenience and time savings along with the
product and service discount and super discount offerings. The
individual buyer profile information data relating consumer
Internet product and service viewing to the resulting actual
purchases both online and offline developed via this concept is
available no where else and will be truly invaluable to merchants
and manufacturers when developing and budgeting ad programs to
garner the best return on their creative efforts and advertising
dollar expenditures. To be able to finally track advertising and
resulting purchasing both virtually and in the real world.
A listing of all participating merchants and manufacturers who have
submitted advertising videos for viewing, either or both
professionally or amateur prepared, will be shown on the club
merchant and manufacturer selection advertising video Internet web
site page (See FIG. 76). Participating club merchants' (e.g. Best
Buy, Target, Staples, The Home Depot, GAP and JC Penney) selections
of advertising videos Internet web site page. Each participating
merchant indicates the number of professional videos (e.g. 4P),
amateur videos (e.g. 2A) and amateur Haul Videos along with
permitting amateurs to submit ads they have created to the
individual merchants for their review and determination of whether
that merchant desires to then post those amateur video ads on this
site for viewing by club members and non-club members; however,
only club members can rate and comment on both the professional and
amateur videos. A selected amateur ad video will garner its creator
a financial reward and will be shown on the individual merchant's
or manufacturer's club video ad site as well as on television,
should it be considered by the merchant or manufacturer to be of
that quality. This gives amateurs a unique opportunity to display
their talents as well as provides a social networking venue
directly focused on product and service, marketing and
advertising.
"Click" on a merchant's or manufacturer's name and you would go to
that merchant's or manufacturer's ad video selection page. The club
individual merchant's (e.g. J C Penney) or manufacturer's
professional (e.g. 4P) and amateur (e.g. 1A) advertising video and
Haul videos selection page showing what the ad videos are about,
the length of the videos, the number of views, the number of
ratings along with one to four stars for video quality and
popularity (See FIG. 77).
"Click" on the video and you would go to the video-viewing page.
The club Internet web site merchant's or manufacturer's advertising
video viewing page allows both club members and non-club members to
view the ads, but only club members can rate the videos as
excellent, good, fair or poor, after entering the club member's
number for identification--the running totals for each of these
ratings are indicated (See FIG. 78). As before, the subject matter
of the video, the number of views and the number of ratings are
shown. Also, a club member may comment on the video as well as view
the comments of others. Submitting a rating on a video, only one
rating per club member per ad, allows a club member to be part of a
drawing on a specified date shown for a chance to win monetary,
product or additional product or service discount rewards provided
by the relative merchant or manufacturer.
Three (3) possible areas for marketing of the Internet search
engine provider (e.g. Microsoft's Bing), the card issuing banks
(e.g. CapitalOne), individual retailers (e.g. Target) or
manufacturers and the club itself both online by way of the club
Internet home page, on the retailers' Internet home pages and
offline on the front or back of the club membership cards (See FIG.
79).
The club method and system provides a platform for marketing,
advertising and sales by merchants and manufacturers both
nationally and internationally. Merchants and manufacturers from
counties other than the United States can participate in offering
their products and/or services on the Universal Preferred Customer
+ Club International Internet Web Site Shopping Portal. Through the
use of bonded warehouses and/or distributions centers located
within the United States or within other countries from their
individual consumers, merchants and manufacturers will be able to
have a ready inventory of products or merchandise on hand enabling
both these merchants and manufacturers to sell directly to club
member buyers, optionally bypassing the retail store, third party
sales environment, and give timely delivery of the purchased
products or merchandise to be picked up at warehouses and
distribution centers by the customers or have the purchased product
or merchandise delivered to the addresses of the buyers' choosing.
Merchants and manufacturers will be able to then gain access to new
markets without the extended time frames and costly approaches
required in setting up their individual products or merchandise
sales initiatives with each individual retailer and stocking each
location as is necessitated with the typical third-party sales
concept. The club concept literally provides the largest worldwide
virtual/real-world shopping mall ever, yet each merchant and
manufacturer being able to operate totally remote from their
consumers.
It is specifically intended that the present invention not be
limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but
include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of
the embodiments and combinations of elements of different
embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *
References